Plan to save rhino off to a flying start

A black rhino is moved as part of the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project (BRREP) into an undisclosed location as part of the programme to increase their breeding success Picture: Green Renaissance

A black rhino is moved as part of the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project (BRREP) into an undisclosed location as part of the programme to increase their breeding success Picture: Green Renaissance

Published Mar 18, 2015

Share

Pretoria - If making rhinos fly is what it is going to take to save the nation’s black rhinos, then fly they will.

A population of black rhino was created recently when 19 of the critically endangered animals were released at an undisclosed location in South Africa.

The animals form the 10th population to be facilitated through WWF SA’s Black Rhino Range Expansion Project and were made available through the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency.

Growing rhino populations is part of WWF SA’s five-point rhino plan.

Black rhino are more at risk of extinction than white rhino due to their low numbers.

Since the start of the programme in 2003, the expansion project has overseen the relocation of about 160 black rhino to form new breeding populations. More than 50 calves have been born on project sites.

“We are extremely proud of the agency’s contribution to the conservation of this species,” said Vuyani Dayimani, chief executive of the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency.

“One of the key objectives of this plan is to grow the national population as rapidly as possible by harvesting animals from populations at or near ecological carrying capacity and using them to create new populations.”

Dr Jacques Flamand, head of the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project, said: “We are really grateful for the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency’s progressive approach to the conservation of black rhino.

“It requires a genuine commitment to conservation to entrust others with the care of such a large group of these precious animals, but this is for the greater good of the species. Establishing a new population is extremely exciting for us because this is essentially what the project works towards.”

The project is a vital part of South Africa’s drive to reach a target of 3 000 black rhino.

“South Africa now has significantly more black rhino than there would have been without the project’s intervention,” Flamand added.

“Founder populations released on to large areas of land have the potential to increase quickly. Moving rhinos from our major parks relieves pressure, allowing for more rapid growth at source and in their new terrain.”

The recent translocation involved WWF and the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency with help from SANParks and Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife.

Six wildlife veterinarians participated in the project which saw darted animals being airlifted by helicopter to a central loading area where they were loaded into crates and prepared for a road trip to their new home.

Pretoria News

Related Topics: